BluePearl Pet Hospital
Overland Park, KS
Our Vets

Before joining BluePearl, Dr. Aarstad worked in Arizona for several years as medical director of an emergency animal hospital and as a primary care veterinarian.

• Internship, Small Animal Medicine & Surgery, Mesa Veterinary Hospital, Mesa AZ
• Doctor of Veterinary Medicine, Kansas State University, Manhattan
• Bachelor of Science, Kansas State University, Manhattan

Dr. Aarstad enjoys spending time with his family and his dog, Lightning. His hobbies include hiking, camping, bird watching, hunting, fishing and working on his house.

Dr. Barger has extensive experience in oncologic surgery and works closely with our medical oncologist to provide your pet with the best care possible. This includes the surgical treatment of many different types of cancer, such as bone cancer and skin tumors. She also enjoys helping pets return to living an active life after traumatic injuries, like fractures, bite wounds and vehicular trauma.

• Diplomate, American College of Veterinary Surgery-Small Animal
• Master of Science, Biomedical Sciences, University of Missouri, Columbia
• Residency, Small Animal Surgery, University of Missouri, Columbia
• Internship, Small Animal Medicine & Surgery, University of Wisconsin, Madison
• Doctor of Veterinary Medicine, University of Missouri, Columbia
• Bachelor of Arts, Microbiology, University of Kansas, Lawrence

Some of Dr. Barger’s favorite pastimes include cycling, hiking, gardening, knitting, and quilting. She has a Portuguese Water Dog and a Standard Poodle.

Dr. Ryan Bragg is especially interested in mechanical ventilation, arterial blood gas monitoring, derangements in pulmonary function and tissue oxygenation, acute abdominal disorders and the management of associated postoperative complications. He also is interested in enteral and parenteral nutrition, continuous renal replacement therapy, and coagulation abnormalities – particularly disorders of hemostasis in the critical patient.

• Diplomate, American College of Veterinary Emergency & Critical Care
• Residency, Emergency & Critical Care, Colorado State University, Fort Collins
• Internship, Small Animal Medicine & Surgery, VCA South Shore Animal Hospital, Boston MA
• Doctor of Veterinary Medicine, University of Wisconsin, Madison
• Bachelor of Science, University of Wisconsin, Madison

Dr. Bragg shares a home with his wife and children, two poorly behaved mutts, Billie and Wallace, and Elvis, an even more poorly behaved cat. He enjoys watching movies, traveling, running, and raising show lambs.

Dr. Loren Easterwood has an interest in gastrointestinal diseases, with an appreciation for investigating their underlying causes.

• Diplomate, American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine (Small Animal Internal Medicine)
• Residency, Small Animal Internal Medicine, Kansas State University, Manhattan
• Internship, Small Animal Medicine and Surgery, BluePearl Pet Hospital, New York, NY
• Doctor of Veterinary Medicine, Kansas State University, Manhattan
• Bachelor of Science, Biology, Evolutionary Anthropology & Anatomy, Duke University, Durham, NC

Dr. Easterwood’s hobbies include yoga and running. In her spare time, she enjoys spending time with her spouse and her dog, a rescued Maltese mix.

Dr. Amanda Forgey is a small animal medicine & surgery intern. She practiced general medicine for seven years in Lincoln, Nebraska where she enjoyed ophthalmology cases and learning new surgical procedures. Throughout this time, she realized how interested she was in surgery and how that area of medicine comes naturally to her. She intends to continue intensive surgical training with the end goal of becoming board-certified.

Dr. Forgey is excited to continue learning more within the veterinary profession and provide high-quality care to her patients.

• Doctor of Veterinary Medicine, Iowa State University
• Bachelor of Science, Biology, Morningside College, Sioux City, IA

Dr. Forgey plays competitive slow-pitch softball and has traveled around the country competing. She has a Border Collie named Aden with whom she participates in CPE agility. Her black lab, Zander, is her running partner.

Dr. Mary Gardner provides compassionate care for pets with urgent medical needs. She transitioned to emergency medicine around four years ago after spending over five years in general practice and has found her home treating the emergent needs of the pets in the greater KC area.

• Doctor of Veterinary Medicine, Kansas State University, Manhattan
• Bachelor of Science, Animal Science, Kansas State University, Manhattan

Outside of work, Dr. Gardner enjoys spending time outside, reading and cheering on her favorite sports teams: the Chiefs, Current, Royals and Sporting. She has two girls at home who keep her busy with their many sports and extracurriculars. She also loves spending time with her cat, recently rescued dog and brand new snake.

Dr. Grauberger enjoys all aspects of emergency medicine.

• Internship, Surgery, Indiana
• Internship, Small Animal Medicine & Surgery, Mississippi State University
• Doctor of Veterinary Medicine, Kansas State University, Manhattan
• Bachelor of Science, Kansas State University, Manhattan

Dr. Grauberger enjoys gardening, cooking and family time. Her family’s typical vacation time includes hiking, snow skiing, fly fishing and any Rocky Mountain experience.

Dr. Jason Gregory is passionate about all cardiac-related diseases and is pursuing advanced training in cardiology. In the meantime, he enjoys almost all facets of emergency medicine, especially acute respiratory crises and congestive heart failure.

• Internship, Small Animal Medicine & Surgery, Kansas State University, Manhattan
• Doctor of Veterinary Medicine, Kansas State University, Manhattan
• Bachelor of Science, Animal Sciences and Industry, Kansas State University, Manhattan

Dr. Gregory is a Kansas City native and big hometown sports fan. After spending two years practicing in the northeast, he decided he was ready for more familiar scenery. When not on the clinic floor, he enjoys staying active through weightlifting and getting outdoors. 

Dr. Kim Gugler is excited by all aspects of emergency medicine but especially enjoys caring for trauma and toxicology patients. She is passionate about educating owners to make the best possible decisions for their pet and their families.

• Residency, Emergency & Critical Care, Dovelewis Veterinary Emergency and Specialty Hospital, Portland, OR
• Internship, Small Animal Medicine & Surgery, Arboretum View Animal Hospital, Downers Grove, IL
• Doctor of Veterinary Medicine, Kansas State University, Manhattan
• Bachelor of Science, Biology, University of Puget Sound, Tacoma, WA

Dr. Gugler is always eager to enjoy the outdoors with her husband and son. She frequently spends weekends camping, hiking and playing in the dirt in her vegetable garden. She loves watching her plants grow and then sharing the resulting salsa and spaghetti sauce.

Dr. Paige Hafner enjoys all aspects of internal medicine. Although, she finds gastrointestinal and infectious diseases the most interesting to investigate and treat.

• Diplomate, American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine (Small Animal Internal Medicine)
• Master of Science, Mississippi State University, Starkville
• Residency, Small Animal Internal Medicine, Mississippi State University, Starkville
• Internship, Small Animal Medicine & Surgery, BluePearl Pet Hospital, Franklin, TN
• Doctor of Veterinary Medicine, Oklahoma State University, Stillwater
• Bachelor of Science, Biology and Zoology, Oklahoma State University, Stillwater

Dr. Hafner played soccer for a short period in college and still enjoys the opportunity to play or watch. She also loves to read and is a huge Harry Potter fan. Her pets include Dalmatian Cassie and tuxedo cat Elsa.

Dr. Heather Heeb enjoys all aspects of the oncology field.

• Diplomate, American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine (Oncology)
• Residency, Oncology, Kansas State University, Manhattan
• Internship, Small Animal Medicine & Surgery, Texas A&M University, College Station
• Doctor of Veterinary Medicine, Kansas State University, Manhattan
• Bachelor of Arts, University of Kansas, Lawrence

Dr. Hayley Hunt finds cardiac and respiratory cases extremely interesting. She enjoys emergency surgery such as splenectomies, GDVs and critical lacerations.

• Doctor of Veterinary Medicine, Iowa State University, Ames
• Bachelor of Science, Animal Science, University of Arkansas, Fayetteville

Dr. Hunt is a huge Arkansas Razorback football fan. Her favorite hobby is horseback riding, and she has four dogs: three Labradors and one English bulldog who runs her life!

Dr. Odle enjoys all aspects of emergency medicine.

• Internship, Small Animal Medicine & Surgery, Veterinary Specialty & Emergency Center, Overland Park KS
• Doctor of Veterinary Medicine, Kansas State University, Manhattan

When not at the hospital, Dr. Odle enjoys the outdoor life.

Dr. Will Pochal is an intern in our cardiology service. After completing his internship, he aims to become a board-certified cardiologist.

• Internship, Small Animal Medicine & Surgery, University of Wisconsin, Madison
• Doctor of Veterinary Medicine, Michigan State University, Lansing
• Bachelor of Science, Biology and Animal Science, University of Vermont, Burlington

Dr. Pochal enjoys playing hockey, soccer, golf, woodworking and spending time with his cat, Frog.

Dr. Karissa Severud finds orthopedic diseases and internal medicine conditions the most gratifying to treat. She is interested in exotic animal medicine and enjoys discussing ideal husbandry and environmental conditions for exotic animals.

• Internship, Small Animal Medicine & Surgery, BluePearl Pet Hospital, Overland Park, KS
• Doctor of Veterinary Medicine, Kansas State University, Manhattan
• Bachelor of Science, Animal Science and Industry, Kansas State University, Manhattan

Dr. Severud has three dogs that she refers to as “the girls,” one of which is a puppy with medically managed portosystemic shunts. She also has a cat and a snake. She enjoys being outside, training with “the girls,” working out and running half marathons with her mother.

Dr Julia Spade medical interests include pain management, acupuncture, hospice and palliative care. She is certified in medical acupuncture, hospice and palliative care. She enjoys collaborating with veterinarians to provide exceptional care for geriatric patients and their families.

Dr. Spade enjoys pain management, palliative care and allowing the family a dignified end-of-life experience. She loves teaching new veterinarians about advanced pain management, communication in end-of-life, and patient care.

• Internship, Small Animal Medicine & Surgery, Veterinary Centers of America, Aurora and Berwyn, IL
• Doctor of Veterinary Medicine, Kansas State University, Manhattan

When she is not working, she is running, reading, playing with her two[1]legged children, Scarlett and Wesley, and four-legged children, Gimli and Dizzy, or traveling with her husband Geoff.

Dr. Justin Thomason enjoys teaching veterinary students, interns, and residents, and delivering excellent care to pets through clinical service consultations with referring veterinarians. He is passionate about advancing the field of veterinary cardiology through clinical research, particularly on the topics of cardiovascular diseases, cardiorenal syndrome, and general internal medicine.

• Diplomate, American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine (Cardiology)
• Residency, Cardiology, University of Georgia, Athens
• Diplomate, American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine (Small Animal Internal Medicine)
• Residency, Internal Medicine, University of Georgia, Athens
• Internship, Small Animal Medicine & Surgery, University of Missouri, Columbia
• Doctor of Veterinary Medicine, Oklahoma State University, Stillwater
• Bachelor of Science, Animal Science, Oklahoma State University, Stillwater

Dr. Thomason enjoys spending free time with his wonderful wife and son. He also enjoys jogging and studying, as well as watching college football and the occasional episode of Duck Dynasty.

Dr. Kayla Viebrock enjoys all aspects of internal medicine but has a special interest in respiratory diseases and endocrinology. She has the expertise to evaluate and treat hyperthyroid cats with I-131 radiation.

• Diplomate, American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine (Small Animal Internal Medicine)
• Residency, Small Animal Internal Medicine, BluePearl Pet Hospital, Kansas City
• Internship, Internal Medicine, BluePearl Pet Hospital, Kansas City
• Internship, Small Animal Medicine & Surgery, Miami Veterinary Specialists, FL
• Doctor of Veterinary Medicine, Kansas State University, Manhattan
• Bachelor of Science, Kansas State University, Manhattan

Dr. Viebrock enjoys time with her husband and sons. The family has two dogs, beagle Madison and dachshund Sven.

Dr. Kaylee Visser’s areas of interest include trauma cases, pain management and intervertebral disc disease. She has a special place in her heart for small geriatric patients and her favorite dog breed is Chihuahuas.

• Doctor of Veterinary Medicine, Kansas State University, Manhattan
• Bachelor of Science, Animal Sciences, Kansas State University, Manhattan

Dr. Visser has an Australian Kelpie dog named Ava and two orange female cats named Velma and Daphne. She loves playing sports, traveling and watching the Chiefs.

Dr. Dana White’s clinical interests include upper airway surgery, intervertebral disc disease and cranial cruciate ligament repair.

• Diplomate, American College of Veterinary Surgeons-Small Animal
• Master of Science, Kansas State University, Manhattan
• Residency, Small Animal Surgery, Kansas State University, Manhattan
• Internship, Small Animal Medicine & Surgery, University of Florida, Gainesville
• Doctor of Veterinary Medicine, University of Missouri, Columbia

Dr. White enjoys kayaking and baking. She and her husband live with a multitude of dogs.

Dr. Carmen Yeamans McGee utilizes implanted vagal nerve stimulators to assist in controlling epilepsy in patients. She has completed numerous procedures to assist in relieving pressure within the brain due to excess fluid accumulation within the ventricular system or cystic structures within the skull.

Dr. Yeamans McGee has a strong interest in surgical management of neurological conditions and finds intervertebral disc disease and inflammatory disease of the brain the most gratifying to treat.

• Member of the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons
• Residency, Neurology & Neurosurgery, University of Glasgow, Scotland
• Internship, Small Animal Neurology & Neurosurgery, VCA Animal Specialty Group, Los Angeles, CA
• Internship, Small Animal Surgery, SAGE Veterinary Centers, Concord, CA
• Internship, Small Animal Medicine & Surgery, VCA Animal Hospital, Chicago, IL
• Doctor of Veterinary Medicine, Kansas State University, Manhattan
• Bachelor of Science, Biochemistry and Animal Science, Colorado State University, Fort Collins

In her free time, Dr. Yeamans McGee enjoys outdoor activities, such as skiing, hiking and fishing. She appreciates spending time with her husband, daughter, Dachshund named Angus, German shepherd named Sergeant and Savannah cat named Echo.

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